Published: September 6, 2023
Rating: Rated T
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Madibek Musabekov
Colourist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Stephen Segovia & Rain Beredo
The synopsis;
TATOOINE TREASON! – A DARK DROIDS TIE-IN!
• As the SCOURGE OF THE DROIDS makes its way through the palace of JABBA THE HUTT on Tatooine, LANDO CALRISSIAN is faced with a dire situation as he attempts to save the life of his old friend LOBOT.
• Their salvation is hidden deep within the palace…
• …but will they live long enough to find it?
The review;
Last issue saw a change to the regular story as Charles Soule began to introduce the huge multi-series crossover event: Dark Droids. The story focused on Lando, doing whatever he can to protect his friend Lobot. Soule uses the ticking time bomb with Lobot. Lando has no idea what is happening, but we the reader, know that this is something unusual that is affecting every droid on a galaxy scale. Let alone that everyone is bypassing Threepio now. It was a great check-in with the character of Lando, who although seemed to have made peace with the fact that he was a Rebel, still hasn’t come that far since The Empire Strikes Back, and certainly not at the point where we see him become a general in Return of the Jedi. Where we head to this issue is anyone’s guess (it is Charles Soule after all). Soule is joined by Madibek Musabekov, whose artwork is always a joy to behold and whose artwork last week really embraced those beautiful dark tones we are seeing to arise in all the series for Dark Droids.
No matter what rendition of Dark Droids I’m reading, there seems to be a type of prologue in each one; this issue is no different. We open with the infected droids wanting to save the same ancient droid that Lando is after. The dark droids recognise that the droid has irreplaceable knowledge that might benefit them. Rather than been grateful for the rescue, the Talky droid wants nothing to do with them, the vast wealth of knowledge that he has, allows him to realise that been infected wouldn’t be good. This whole beginning really sets the scene: it catches new readers up quickly; it recaps for those of us who have followed but need a refresh and it also sets the really dark tone that this crossover has started.
Musabekov’s artwork right from the beginning illustrates all this beautifully. He relies so much on shadow in a very good way to keep a lot of things hidden, to make you feel this oppression of ark news descending on the whole comic. It’s simple tremendous. This is then contrasted with outside of Jabba’s Palace and seeing the much brighter Tatooine. Captured at dusk, even lighter, it still has this darkness seeping through the pages.
Soule shows us that Han still has Lando’s capes, which leads us to some flashbacks. We had this last week and I have to say I’m really enjoying them. With an immobile Lobot, it’s the only way to really flesh out the relationship the two have. We see them trying to walk into a club, but this isn’t really important. What is, is the conversation the two characters are having. Lando shows the sort of confidence he is famed for and Lobot – well – simply doesn’t. He doesn’t know how to be like Lando. Lando finds it difficult to understand why Lobot can’t be like him. Lando doesn’t see himself as special, but he does see Lobot as very gifted, that something like confidence should be a breeze for him. There is very much a brotherly love between the two characters and it’s so touching to see Lando being the bigger brother. It reminds me of Carrie and Max from Homeland in a lot of ways. The naivety and innocence to the character of Lobot. Also, when you’re reading, Soule is trying to show us that care and compassion that Lando has for Lobot gives him purpose, possibly the only purpose he has other than money. It’s about Lando caring about someone (or something) other than himself. Lobot is Lando’s rock, the person he can go to and feel ok. Soule demonstrates several times in the issue just how much Lando needs Lobot how he pleads for him to be ok. This is what Soule does best, creating and showing those emotional connections that ultimately lead us seeing the character growth in the series.
We get to see Boba, a very worried Boba. He is absolutely not needed but I love that Soule drops him into the issue. It’s a nod to the bounty hunter but also to the immense danger that everyone is in. Those glowing purple eyes, stabbing out of the darkness are very creepy!
The other thing Soule does so well is making those connections with the Original Trilogy and making fans rethink what they know about a certain film. It was only just this weekend I was actually showing my daughter Return of the Jedi for the first time. While watching the scenes in Jabba’s Palace play out, I was there thinking how did they map out every move so well? Talk about timing because Soule answers that here. Lando finds the skiff outfit in the Millennium Falcon. This is sort of ironic that one of the pieces for Han’s rescue is actually from Han himself. But more than that, we see Lando on a recon of the place without actually knowing. He must deal with the door, he hears about Jabba having issues with translator droids, he sees the layout of the throne room, that Han is still in carbonite, the rancor pit. It’s all there, every piece of information that Luke and Leia are going to need in order to be able to plan out their rescue later on. I love that, I love it’s not complete guess work, there is some actual information they use to help them. And of course, the rancor. It’s a great way to end the issue and makes you want more immediately.
I love this series; I always have done. A crossover event can sometimes sideline what’s happening in the main body of the series, yet Dark Droids is only further enhancing what Soule does best. It is all about character, about the bonds between the characters and the emotions that they must face. We’ve had a lot of focus on Luke recently and I like that we now have a change back to Lando (for me, the other big focus of this entire series). Soule shows us a very human side to Lando, a side that has some agenda other than money. Throw in the events of Dark Droids, and you have an issue that not only allows new readers to see what the fuss is about with Star Wars but also one that speaks to established readers of the series. So far, every issue linked to Dark Droids has really outdone itself and Star Wars (2020) 38 is no different.
Availability;
Star Wars (2020) is an ongoing series available from Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $4.99 and is available via ComiXology and all good comic book stores.
